-"To combat the growing threat of the SSU airpower a few of the more enterprising axis field commanders made modifications to the ubiquitous medium Panzerkampflaufer frame. By removing the Kampfzange from the Luther and adding a second 5cm Flak 43 cannon a fearsome weapon platform was created.

This layout is dangerous to both helicopters and infantry, units fielded by the SSU in increasingly larger numbers.

Although the Doppel-Flak 43 offers some anti-armour capabilities, an unsupported fire-fight with an enemy walker is ill-adviced and will likely see the Panzer damaged or destroyed.

The "Flak-Luther", as the Panzer pattern has been aptly named by the troops employing with it, admittingly is an unsanctioned Medium Panzer pattern but it's the opinion of this author that it's best to keep a blinds eye to it's unautherized use. Still only used in limited numbers by a select few commanders, it's progress in the field should be closely monitored, as the first field results show a remarkable succes rate.

Synopsis: If the "Flak-Luther" is as useful a weapon as first combat engagements have indicated High Command should consider adopting this layout in the Axis inventory."-

-A short excerpt of "A treaty on field-modification and adaptive tactics on the Eastern Front ."

by major Reinhardt Braun, presently attached to Feld Kriegs-Unterricht detachemant .-

"Flak-Luther"

move: 6

Type: Vehicle 4

DC:4

Base Cost: 45 AP

Basic Unit: 1 Medium Combat Walker

Weapons: Doppel-Flak 43 (F), and Turret MG 44.

Special abilities: Rare, Unsanctioned Pattern

Soldier Vehicle Air

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3

MG44: 16" 6/1 3/1 1/1 - 2/1 1/1 - - - - - 1/1 1/1 1/1

Doppel-Flak 43: 36" 9/1 7/1 5/1 3/1 4/1 4/1 3/1 2/1 - - - 5/1 5/1 4/1

Rare: the force may only include 1 unit with this special ability,

Unsanctioned Pattern: If a "Flak-Luther" is fielded then the platoon upgrade Extra Panzer may not be taken in the force.

Designers note:

I was hesitant to post the rules to the Flak-Luther as i love home-made rules that enrich the community and make people able to play with there toys, but i don't want to lauch something over-powered and/or changing the game balance.

In the text above it's indicated that the reason for this pattern is to have a powerfull weapon against the SSU, in reality i wrote these rules because i wanted to be able to field the model. After watching the BOLS video you'll see how easy it is to convert the Loth, and then you're left with 2 Flak cannons that perfectly fit the Axis chassis and are very cool looking. (But i speculate that in a war weapons are build to fulfil combat needs, not because they look cool, so that's the angle in the fluff )

My reason for the dual weapons is that all Axis medium walkers have 1 primary (long-range) weapon and 1 MG, where the Allies have 1 primary weapon (Steel-Rain excluded) and 2 MGs. Adding 2 separate Flak 43s would break that mold and be too powerfull in damage output and targeting flexibility, so that was out of the question.

The Doppel-Flak's damage output against infantry is slightly better (+1 point against A2,A3 and A4) then that of the Allies light walker Wildfire. The AA capabilities are slightly worse (minus 1 point vs AA3) then those of the Wildfire and the Axis light walker Hans.

Against armour there is an improvement in the damage of the DoppelFlak 43 vs the single Flak 43 (+1 point vs V1, V2 and V3) but not versus Armour 4 vehicles, as i didn't want to change it's battlefield role.

Also to limit it's availabity and prevent spam it's got the 2 special abilities Rare and Unsanctioned Pattern .

The cost was set at 45 AP because the most expensive Axis Medium Walker is 40 point and to be safe 5 points were added to that.

For 45 AP you could also buy a Hans and a Heinrich, or 2 Heinrichs + Extra Panzer upgrade for 50 AP.

I don't think it's overpowered but i don't think it's weak either as the range and flexible damage output on a Armour 4 chassis make it a usefull unit. And i some circumstances i can be very poweful.

These rules were written for games between friends but after observing several posts about home-brew rules in other threads i deceided to share and ask your opinions.

So what do you think, make these rules the Flak-Luther playable, overpowered, under-powered, useless or worse even.. boring?

I cannot see the damage for aircraft 2 and 3 it appears you only have it at 5/1 for aircraft 1 and to be honest I think it needs to be pretty dam good against all aircraft as it i a 50MM cannon, though is it the 50MM Anti aircraft canon or the 50MM cannon that was mounted on early panzers if it was the one from panzers then the RoF would be lower and your damage is just right if it was one of the later rapid fire anti aircraft versions then your damage may be to low.

I like the idea and the fluff.

I'm diggin it. Fluff is great. Though I have to say I think the stat line might be more interesting for the flak 43 if the dice stayed the same and the damage went to 2. This might be too much though (more below). If your going to be at WGC2012 next weekend you should run it by Mack for his input.

When I was first familiarizing myself with Dust stats, it seemed to me that the X/Y stat was indicative of Rate of fire and Chance to Hit for the first number, and Damage potential vs type on the second. I think it may have started out that ways anyway, though I think many of the larger weapons don't really reflect this so much, while I feel most of the small arms still do. For instance the Wildfire in your comparison feels like it reflects the punishing RoF that a quad 50 might have, but is still just a heavy machine gun in damage potential. Where as I think the Flak 43 get shorted, as it has a low rate of fire but the same damage potential per hit - which seems odd to me. My understanding of the balance in Dust however, is not very fine tuned so i may be way off base. Still it seems to me it would be more interesting to see more weapons with lower numbers of dice but higher damage potentials. Especially in the gap between regular munitions and Laser Weapons, which is where I feel AP and HE style rounds would land.

I'd also like ot see a pic of it if you have one.

Funny thing is I have one of these already ….. I made a Loth and converted the cannon arm too. So I can go Loth, Luther (right) or a Luther (left) and now a Flak Luther. Sweet!

Keerplunk said:

The stat-layout shifted a bit when the post uploaded and i can't seem to edit it

But the AA stats are in there, but i'll summarize:

AIRCRAFT

1 2 3

5/1 5/1 4/1

I didn't want to go overboard with the damage output, as it's intended as be a viable (but pricey) choice, but not so powerfull as to change the gamebalance (to much). With home-brew rulesets i think it's best to be understated because there is no extensive playtest.

But the rules could (and should) always be adapted when things don't work or are fun for the player and his opponent.

"I'd also like ot see a pic of it if you have one"

I have to confess to Kommissar Zeitsev that i don't have pictures.

I have a Ludwig and a Luther from the Original Core set (no further weapon options) and did change the weapon arms of the Luther after watching the conversion video. But to be able to actually make the Loth and Flak-Luther i have to order an extra Medium Panzer Kit but that's going to be another 2 weeks before being able to make a large order (+some other units ).

But after having written the rules for my own use i couldn't resist posting it and seeing receiving some feedback.

Big Red has a pic in his BoLS Gallery